Prayer Request Thread

I have one more. A friend that I play softball with's dad has kidney cancer. They operated on him a few weeks ago and took the wrong kidney. Not that the prognosis was good anyway, but now there is nothing that can be done and it is a matter of time. So if you all could say a quick one for my friend Bob and his father and the rest of his family, that would be cool....

I seem to be on a roll....just got an email over lunch from my friends Don and Danielle in Uganda. I am writing to ask that you please go before the throne on behalf of Don. He has fallen sick with malaria and is not feeling well at all. We are suspecting he caught it a week and a half ago when he traveled up north with some other pastors as they were staying in the villages. Please pray that God would give him a restful night of sleep tonight and that the malaria treatment will be effective.

When that inexplicable something happens in your life, when that peace, joy, comfort or deliverance come your way let us not forget to share the praise portion of prayer.

For me there have been some big things going on in my gym. There is a long time friend who I recently have come reacquainted with. We fellowship at a mens group in our church. The man is a testament to good stewardship and makes me want to be a better man.

Not only was the lusting issue I struggle with put at bay for a bit many times he and I were speaking out loud to each regarding our walks and struggles. I tell you the truth, that no less then three men were drawn to both of us through this conversation. We both were blessed with opportunity to witness.

So when you ask for deliverance remember He is faithful to provide a way out and if we are willing to accept it not only can we delivered but He can also be glorified. Pay attention and don't miss it.

Also don't forget to share it here. I know personally of at least one man here who is a prayer warrior. When he prays for me things happen and lives are changed. First mine and then if I am faithful the man or woman next to me.

We fellowship at a mens group in our church. The man is a testament to good stewardship and makes me want to be a better man.

... I tell you the truth, that no less then three men were drawn to both of us through this conversation. We both were blessed with opportunity to witness.

.... I know personally of at least one man here who is a prayer warrior.

I don't want to beat a dead horse; especially since I realize that my wife's continued adultery, while painful, is far less of a burden than others have been asked to carry - but I'll use it as an example:

Before I learned the reality of what "she" was again doing, I knew something was terribly wrong. Rather than to continue to try to control it, I surrendered it to God. God started softening my heart so that I could see what was really going on, and that my actions to glorify Him were the very ones that lead to the truth coming out.

Even before it all unfolded, I started surrounding myself with Christian men; those to whom I could confide. These men are my brothers in Christ; although one weeded himself out by telling his wife something I told him in confidence - and his wife told my so-called wife.

I couldn't do it alone. I needed the Godly counsel of these other men. After the first affair I went into solitary confinement. I told no one what was going on - trying to save the honor of my children, and yes, my wife too. It was awful.

Men - please don't go through troubles alone. Take them to God, and then look for other men who will support you with Godly advice. I was told "a million times" by non-Christian men that I should do was get even; and go bang all the women I could. I didn't - although some part of that advice didn't seemed fairly attractive. I didn't because (1) it would have only lowered me to "her" level, (2) it would have used someone else, and (3) it would not have glorified God. My Christian buddies never advised me to go on a Lay-athon.

The moral? Surround yourself with men who will help push you in the right direction; not pull you down into the mud.

At times I really struggle with my relationship with God. It seems to be intermittent, sometimes the greatest, sometimes the absolute worst.

I know I am not the only one who feels this way, but sometimes I wish I could just pick up a phone and speak to God directly, just so that we can be on the same page and I can get some help/direction I need with no ambiguity.

God rarely speaks directly to people, and 99.9999% of the time his healing comes from other people and so does his word. Honestly, I do find this situation frustrating at times, and even more so very impatient and doubtful.

In regards to my own situation, I've found myself lately not wanting to persue the situation further and would just wish that God would send me an email or give me a phone call that way I could just get the jist of not 'why' everything happened to me, but more so 'what' should I do from now and moving forward.

At times I really struggle with my relationship with God. It seems to be intermittent, sometimes the greatest, sometimes the absolute worst.

I know I am not the only one who feels this way, but sometimes I wish I could just pick up a phone and speak to God directly, just so that we can be on the same page and I can get some help/direction I need with no ambiguity.

God rarely speaks directly to people, and 99.9999% of the time his healing comes from other people and so does his word. Honestly, I do find this situation frustrating at times, and even more so very impatient and doubtful.

In regards to my own situation, I've found myself lately not wanting to persue the situation further and would just wish that God would send me an email or give me a phone call that way I could just get the jist of not 'why' everything happened to me, but more so 'what' should I do from now and moving forward.

It is very difficult.

Yes, I am sure it is.

If God did the email thing, then we wouldn't have to rely on faith. But I am with you, when I suffer I want relief. Unfortunately for me, that happen's on God's, not Beau's, schedule.

Prayer
5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Do Not Worry
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The challenge is knowing the mind of God. If we know the mind of God then we know how He communicates to us. We are not like God and we need to learn His mind and how He communicates. The way we get to know the mind of God is by studying His word. When we study His word we know what He is like and when we are in His word we are in His presence. How do you get to know your Father? By spending time with Him. How do we do this? Prayer AND study.

One of the things I've learned in my own experience is that God tends to give an ample amount that you need to continue to move forward, but not enough to actually do the work for you. God also seems to make you as a person draw enough to do your own work instead of God doing it (which could be easily done and would be much better).

I've picked this up, esp with Elijah's story. Sometimes it is a pain to go through 'bad times' and just want relief and for it to be over, although in the back of my head I know it dosen't work that way, it is not on my time schedule, and more importantly, for all I know I could be 100% off. On top of that, it falls on me and my own responsibility, no one else.

In my experience I have not suffered through or endured any trial that has not made me a stronger and better man...when I do it with God.

"for we know that He works all things for good for those who love Him"

Notice He did not say; have the answers, try their best, fix it on their own, try harder, give it 100%...etc.

Going through something without God may just be survival. Going through something WITH God is molding, forming and shaping you and your character into the God like man He intends for you to become. THAT man He has plans to use for His glory some day. You will be that witness that someone will be waiting for God to send into their life.

I wanted to pass on something that I mentioned in a bible study:
My son (10y/o) who had been asking for some type of toy repeatedly (and we repeatedly said no) asked me what I thought a parent's job was. I knew he was going somewhere with it so I told him to tell me what he thought. He said "people tell me it's to make kids happy" At that point I didn't know whether to laugh or get angry. I told him pretty much that I didn't care if I made him happy, that my job was to make sure he grew up into a fine upstanding young man. If he liked me, even better; if not as long as I did my job I would be content with that.

The leader of the bible study responded to that story by saying that a lot of times we are all like my ten year old son. We expect God to constantly make us happy. We feel that it's his job. I believe God does want us to be happy, but he is more concerned with our spiritual growth and our ability to learn and grow in Him. This is a hard lesson for me as I go through the many struggles of life. I wonder why God lets me go through those things...why isn't He making my life happy? It is during those times that I believe He wants us to turn to him and understand that through him we are more blessed than we can ever imagine.

And, we need to keep in mind that God gave all of us free will; meaning we can do as we please, but so can others. Even if we follow God, others may not - thus we may have to face ill-intended transgressions of others.

I don't believe it is prudent to see God's role as ensuring we will not experience pain. I've learned to know better.

Today my wife was lucky caller #12 for a local news channel Diamondbacks ticket contest - 4 tickets to the game Friday night.

A long awaited insurance claim finally came to closure today. A decent sized settlement check is on its way. We're grateful that my wife was not injured (whiplash - very seriously exaggerating existing migraine issue) worse than she was and is starting to get to a completely recovered status.

My 6 yo first grade daughter is in an advanced reading program. She went in initially evaluated at a 2.1 reading level. After only one semester (it started up after the Christmas break) she was just reevaluated today and is assessed at a 4.1 reading level. I am so grateful she is a reader. I was not and am still not much of a reader.

Just picked up on this thread, and would like to say that this is an AWESOME thread which you have started here B! I am one which like Reaper said, has kind of an intermittent relationship with god, allthough I do not want it to be as so! I think my major abstacle and one for whcih I allways pray for strength against, is lust as well! Allthough I am not on the right path, I do believe in god and have faith in him as he has proven to me many a times that nothing is impossible for him! I shall keep everyone here in my prayers, and ask that you keep my mother and father(which are both ill but thanks to gods grace are recovering VERY well) in your prayers! Thanks, and again great thread brother!

The worst was in maynamar (sp). The cyclone has destroyed parts of Burma, and the inability to get supplies to the people is ridiculous. There is only so long that those people can surivive until nature starts to take its course.

It is truely tragic how these events happen, esp with the one in Maynamar with very poor economic conditions.

As atjnutrition2 was saying, nowhere in the bible does it say anything about happiness. I'm going to go further and say, I don't really recall seeing anything about 'guaranteed' healing either. Not to say that God dosen't heal, as he often does, but there is no guarantee of the power of healing which is often times the most difficult thing to overcome depending on the circumstances of each individual.

Despite my own challenges, I am quick to dismiss the things going RIGHT in my life and have a tendency to focus on this going wrong instead. Not to single out Beau, but if **** like that happen to me, I don't know if I would be able to cope with that or even recover........ever. I think a lot of people could say the exact same thing as well.

Here's a link to a website I like to read. I don't agree with 100% of everything that Ralph says, however I find it still good material to ponder over.

We are responsible with what we look at/for, and the thoughts that we have when we find something visually pleasing.

There is nothing wrong with acknowledging that someone is attractive.

Lusting isn't the same as acknowledging that someone is attractive.

Lusting is really a measure of where your heart and mind are. So, the issue becomes are your thoughts glorifying God?

We all face temptations to look, leer or lust.

Here is what I try to do - I deflect my eyes when faced with an opportunity to look at someone that I believe will lead to anything other than an assessment of the extent to which they are (she is) attractive. For example - last night I went to dinner, and at one point went to the restroom. Upon exiting the men's room, I saw a waitress bending over a table, reaching to get something in the far side of the booth. As she did, her skirt rose up her hips - to the point I could have very easily "seen her stuff". As soon as I realized this (i.e, in a split second), I deflected my eyes away from her rear end. Now, everything within my red-bloodedness told me to stay there and look. That would have only normal (and lustful). But I made myself look away because I didn't have the right to take advantage of her. So despite having what I believe is an extraordinary high libido, I made myself look away and felt pleased, rather than feeling seedy or embarrassed.

That approach takes practice, and will power. It sure as heck doesn't "feel right", but it is.

OK - if you can, please include this in your prayers. I know it is nothing like the tragedy others have faced, but it feels like another very stinging blow to my heart.

You may have read that I am in the process of getting a divorce. The divorce process is the most undignified thing I've ever gone through. The divorce was prompted by my wife's multiple affairs. This time she, the Director of Contemporary Music at our then-church, has been sleeping with our then-church's Director of Christian Music since November 2006. SO, until she resigned in September 2007 and he was "allowed to resign" a week later, they lead praise to our then-congregation for nearly a year - all while meeting in hotels and having sex.

About two years ago my so-called wife stopped being a mother to our daughter; now 15. She started being our daughter's best friend and confidant. I had no idea that she was turning my daughter against me - as they established a covert plan in which my so-called wife made me the bad guy. Of course, my daughter knew nothing of the real motivation; my so-called wife intended to move out of the house, divorce me and and marry her lover - although she wanted to make it look like we separated and then they "found each other". As it now stands, I have seen my daughter one time since she left with my so-called wife back in September 2007, when I found out about the adultery. I have called and sent letters each week; none of which are returned. According to several counselors, my wife is committing what is referred to as "emotional incest" with my daughter, and I don't stand a chance of having a relationship with my daughter until she sees the truth. BTW - neither of my sons will have anything to do with their so-called mother. They see her for what she is. My daughter is now seeing a counselor and the counselor also sees my daughter's mother for what she is and sees just what she is doing.

So - today is my 49th birthday. I received calls from my sons (22 and 20, both attending UCLA). I didn't expect anything from my daughter, but received a Hallmark Ecard. All it said was "I hope you have a nice day. (Her Name)"

No I love you. No I miss you. Nothing.

I thought I was past this type of hurt, or immune to it; apparently not. I realize the truth may be that I am over-reacting or just too sensitive.

Here is my prayer request. Please pray that God will bring someone in my daughter's life that will help her see the truth of what her mother has done, and see me in an accurate light; not the jaded light her mother has prescribed for me.

These prayers aren't for me - what I want most is for the healing process with my daughter to start - and for that to happen she needs to be able to assess things truthfully.

No longer am I a dad of 2. Now I am a dad of 2 and 1 on the way . We already have 2 boys, so we are hoping that this one is a girl. Regardless of the sex we are and will remain thankful for these blessings.

This thread is a great idea, because it doesn't take long for us to come to wits end in this fallen world. Trying to live on our own strength is a recipe for disaster, and it is very easy for us to think of God as this distant uninvolved entity, but that could not be farther from the truth. God demonstrated His charater and how He felt about us on the Cross, and He is more than willing to help us in all of our trials on Earth.